San Joaquin County, CA History
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
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History of San Joaquin County, California with Biographical Sketches - Historic
Record Company, Los Angeles, CA - 1923
CHAPTER XIII
THE FOREIGN POPULATION
Israel Zangwill, the great Jewish writer, calls America the "melting pot
of nations." In relation to San Joaquin County this is true only in part. Many
immigrants from other nations, notably those from Germany, Ireland, England,
Scotland, France, and smaller nations have blended with the Americans in
customs, habits and thoughts, but the Jews, the Chinese and the Japanese are as
distinctive a race to�day as they were fifty years ago. The Chinese are apart
and they have no desire to enter the melting pot, but their American-born
children are fast adopting American ways. The Japanese are doing their level
best to get into that pot, but the Americans tolerate them only in a financial
sense. The Jews are apart because they consider themselves "God's chosen people"
and through their distinctive racial solidarity.
The foreign population of Stockton, as given in the United States census
of 1870, was 4,102, not including the Chinese, Japanese there were none. This
population was classified as follows: From England 532, Scotland 123, Sweden
153, France 189, Germany 1,084, and Ireland 1,581. The Chinese in 1860,
according to the census, numbered 139, and in 1870 1,692. It was impossible to
make a count during the mining days as they were coming and going by the
hundreds, and suspicious of the Americans, they would not correctly report their
numbers. Besides the nations named there were immigrants from Italy, Spain,
Wales, Denmark, Norway, South America, Mexico, the Sandwich Islands and German
and Polish Jews. What a fusion of metal they would have made had they all
blended, but they did not blend; had they done so this chapter could not have
been written. Their customs, manners and religion were different, hence I have
assembled these first-named, together with the Mexicans, in one chapter.
The Mexican People
The Mexican people of Stockton came originally from Mexico, the sons and
daughters of Spanish soldiers and Indian mothers. They were almost unanimously
of the ignorant peon class. The American hatred of these people was the
after-effects of the Mexican War, their efforts to dig the gold and take it from
the country and their admiration of a good horse regardless of its owner.
They were very poor and lived in shacks or hovels with scarcely any
furniture, no carpets upon the floor and in many cases not even a wooden floor,
the bare earth serving them. They had no improvements around their houses, not
even a fence or sidewalk, and often adjoining the house was the corral where
they stabled one or two horses. Every family had one or more dogs and it seemed
the poorer the family the greater number of canines. Nearly all of the families
lived within sight and sound of the Catholic Church, and the bell was rung at 6
o'clock a. m. and 6 p. m., thus giving them the time of day. The families were
located principally east of San Joaquin and south of Washington Street.
The men were engaged in the various occupations of sheep herding and
sheep shearing, as pack-mule drivers, and vaqueros, for there were thousands of
cattle, horses and sheep in the surrounding country that required herding and
handling for market. In the town a few Mexicans were engaged in manufacturing
bridles, Spanish bits, spurs, hair rope, hair cinches, and stampers of leather
for saddles. The men when not employed would lie around smoking cigarettes and
gambling. The women would do all the housework, such as it was, even to the
marketing, and day after day the women were seen with a shawl thrown over their
heads, carrying their basket on their way to the grocer or butcher. They would
always purchase the cheapest of meats, and then beg a piece of meat for the dog.
Their principal food was flour, corn, beans and beef. They never used mutton or
pork and cooked their foods in beef suet; everything they used was steeped in
red pepper and garlic.
The Mexicans were expert horsemen and much of their work was done on
horseback. They were also expert with the riata in catching and throwing
animals, although in neither their rope work or their horsemanship were they
equal to the cowboys of today. They were great admirers of the horse and began
riding horseback in early childhood. Their admiration for the animal was so
strong that frequently they took possession of other people's property. Horse
stealing became so common, not only among the Mexicans, but the Americans, that
a law was passed in 1852 making horse stealing a capital crime. It was repealed
the following year and horse stealing went right on. The crime was so common
that severe measures were necessary to stop it, if possible, and the owner of
the stolen animal was justified in killing the thief on the spot. A case of this
kind was reported. A man named Weber lost a valuable horse and saddle in March,
1855. Having some idea of the direction the thief traveled, he obtained another
animal and started in pursuit. The following morning he found his horse tied to
a tree and nearby a Mexican cooking his breakfast by a campfire. Shooting and
killing the thief he threw the body across the saddle horse he had stolen and
brought him to town. Another case was that of Thomas Marshall. Early one morning
in 1856, he heard a noise in his stable near the home in the south part of
Stockton. Going to the door with his cocked revolver, he saw in the moonlight a
tall Mexican leading one of his horses from the stable; Marshall fired two shots
at him, and the man dropping the rope, ran like a deer for the street. That
morning a tall, straight�as-an-arrow Mexican was found dead upon the sidewalk
near the South Methodist Church. He lay there in the morning sun for over two
hours before the coroner took charge of the body. Upon inquiry as to his death,
Marshall informed the coroner of his actions early that morning. The Mexican had
a wonderful vitality, as he had run over half a mile with two shots in his body,
either one of them fatal.
One of the strongest characteristics of the Mexican was his revengeful
nature, especially concerning womanhood, and among themselves they would fight
to the death. Their favorite weapon was the bowie knife, and many of their women
carried concealed daggers. Until the erection of the Clark Hotel a few years
ago, there stood on the corner of Market and Sutter Streets a large oak tree,
and around this tree, in 1858, was fought one of the most tragic duels of the
state. Two Mexicans had some difficulty over a woman and going to this tree
about three o'clock in the morning the two men fought round and round the tree
until both were so badly cut that they fell exhausted and both died later.
Several Americans saw the duel and said, "Let them fight, they are nothing but
greasers." The men had fought so long that they wore a pathway around the tree,
and it was covered with blood. Two Mexicans in July, '54, began disputing in the
El Dorado Saloon over some trivial matter "and as the subject waxed warm they
concluded to fight it out with bowie knives. They proceeded down to the wharf
near the store of Paige & Webster and went to work with the precision of Mexican
soldiers. One, a boy seventeen years of age, was stabbed twice in the arm and
the other duelist landed in jail." July seems to have been a warm month for
Mexican duels, for the newspaper reports one in July, 1853, between two
senoritas. The two women had some trouble over a dog, and they challenged each
other to fight. They accordingly met between their respective adobes armed with
bowie knives. The contest lasted several minutes, each cutting the other
severely.
Joaquin Murietta
The chief of the Mexican revengers was Joaquin Murietta, who terrorized
the central part of the state from 1849 to 1853. Joaquin, but nineteen years of
age when he began his criminal career, was beyond all doubt the most daring,
cool-headed and quick-witted of any of California's desperadoes. In his
appearance he is said to have been a handsome light-complexioned Mexican with
black curly hair and deep blue eyes. He was of splendid physique, an unerring
shot with a revolver and ready for any kind of daring adventure. Hailing from
Mexico, he came to California in 1849 with a Mexican circus and located in Los
Angeles. While there he fell in love with Rosita Felix, whose parents were
Spanish and proud Castilians and objected to their daughter's marriage with a
Mexican; so they eloped. Going to Shaw's Flat, Murietta discovered some rich
"diggin's" and began mining, One day a company of American bullies came along
and finding that Murietta had a good thing attempted to drive him away, saying
that greasers were not allowed to dig gold from the American soil. The young
fellow held his ground. He said that he had obeyed the mining laws and had a
perfect right to dig for gold. Then the cowards insulted Murietta's wife and
when he resented it they knocked him down and severely beat him, and ravished
his wife in his presence. The ruffians then fled, and Joaquin, stifling his
revenge, went further back in the mountains, where he hoped the Americans would
not come. Not long after this he visited Murphy's Camp, riding a horse belonging
to his half-brother. Again a party of scoundrels greeted him with the remark,
"You d�d greaser, where did you steal that horse?" Without waiting for him to
give an explanation, they seized Joaquin, bound him to a tree and whipped him
severely upon his bare back, turned him loose with the remark, "Now vamoose and
never come back to these diggins unless you want to be hung." Burning with
hatred against the Americans, he took an oath that he would have revenge for his
three wrongs, for the Americans had not only outraged his wife and severely
whipped him without any cause, but they had shot and killed his half-brother.
Organizing a band of some twenty of the worst desperadoes in the state,
including Roger Felix, Pedro Gonzales and Manuel Garcia, better known as
three-fingered Jack, for over three years he terrorized the great San Joaquin
Valley with murders, robberies and daring exploits. His criminal record is
unsurpassed by any other bandit on the Coast. Here is the record of Joaquin and
his band for ten days in February, 1852; On February 12, at Mokelumne Hill they
robbed an American and four Chinamen. A party started in pursuit of the gang
and easily tracing them found that at Big Bar on the 16th they murdered six
Chinamen and got away with $10,000. On the following day a German traveler
reported that the band had relieved him of $600. At Rich Gulch they killed three
Chinamen and wounded five more, getting $10,000 in gold dust. The sheriff of the
county and his posse now followed in pursuit and suddenly coming upon the band
February 20, while robbing a bank, a fight took place in which the Mexicans came
out second best. They all escaped, however, as the sheriff's horses were too
tired to follow the bandit.
Joaquin Murietta was the Claude Duval of California as that famous
highwayman was the terror of England. Joaquin in his escape from justice was
assisted by all of the Mexican people, who would act as spies and inform him of
every movement of the officers. His band had the fastest horses in the country
and committing a robbery or murder in one locality, the following day he would
be a hundred miles distant. His escapes from an early death seemed almost
miraculous, considering his daring exploits. It is said on one occasion he
attended a fandango in Monterey. While on the floor dancing, the sheriff of the
county came up to him and speaking in Spanish said, "Se�or, have you seen
anything of Murietta in your travels?" "No; but I should like to get hold of the
gentleman." Quietly Murietta left the dance and in a few minutes was miles away.
On another occasion he visited a saloon in Marysville and began playing monte.
During the conversation Murietta was discussed, and a card player remarked, "I
would give a thousand dollars for a shot at Murietta." The desperado, jumping
upon the table, exclaimed, "You cowardly gringo, look, I am Murietta," and
before the astonished party could gather their thoughts he ran to the door,
jumped on his horse and sped away. One of his most daring escapes was at
Stockton. A reward of $5,000 had been offered for Murietta's capture dead or
alive and posters were sent out to that effect. One day several persons were
reading one of the posters fastened on the side of a house when one of them
exclaimed, "I would like to get that greaser in range of my gun, I'd pay my
score. Murietta's gang caught me on the road below Angels Camp, they took my
horse and all my gold dust, and tying me to a tree two of his men gave me a
whipping, while Murietta looked on and laughed." About that time a horseman rode
quietly along on a small, well-built mustang. He stopped and listened to the
conversation for a few minutes, then dismounting he went to the poster and
quickly wrote the words, "I will give $10,000 myself. Joaquin Murietta." Then
with a quick spring into the saddle he swiftly rode away. Parties pursued him,
but he had the fastest animal, a lead of many miles and pursuit was useless.
The authorities were determined to somehow break up and capture the
outlaws, and in 1853 the legislature commissioned Harry Love, a well-known
gun-fighter and ranger, to organize a company of horsemen and capture the
bandit. Love organized a company of twenty men, among them Captain P. E. Connor.
They rode over the country for several months but could find no trace of
Joaquin, for his Mexican spies, both men and women, whom he paid with much gold,
kept him posted as to every movement of the Love party. Meeting with failure at
every turn, Love finally resorted to strategy. During the day time he would
ride in one direction and at night he would travel in another. In that way he
deceived Joaquin's sentinels and they could not warn him as to Love's locality.
On July 25, while Love and his party were traveling in Fresno County near Tulare
Lake they noticed a rather suspicious smoke arising from the broad plain, the
Mexicans were sitting around, some smoking cigarettes and others playing cards.
As soon as the Americans recognized the party they made a dash for the camp; the
Mexicans, taken by surprise, made no effort to fight but fled in every
direction. Joaquin was recognized by William Byrnes, one of the Love rangers,
and he shouted, "This is Joaquin, boys; we've got them at last !" Murietta,
springing from the ground, ran to his unsaddled horse, which was staked out to
feed, and jumping on his back dexterously threw a loop around his nose to guide
him. Hoping to escape his pursuers, he ran his horse to a bluff and forced him
to jump to the earth below. Some of the party riding around both sides of the
bluff attempted to cut him off. Shooting at Joaquin as he ran, one of the shots
struck the animal and it fell. The desperado then attempted to run, but a
well-directed bullet ended his career and, throwing up his hands, he exclaimed,
"No tira mas yo soy muerto," (Don't shoot any more for I am dead.) They severed
the head from the body and preserved it in alcohol to prove that the famous
bandit was no more. Later it was sold to some traveling showman and exhibited
throughout the state.
The Fandango
One of the pleasures of the Mexican people was the "fandango," a lively
Spanish dance. The fandango as danced by the Mexicans themselves was right and
proper, for woe to the Mexican who insulted a wife or maiden, but later fandango
houses became the vilest of vile resorts. There were several fandango houses in
Stockton, and singularly enough one of them became the Baptist house of worship.
The authorities long tried to suppress these places and in 1854 succeeded, "The
better element of society rejoiced today, March, 1854, because of the closing of
the fandango houses. One year previous there were a dozen or more such houses,
but from that time on they were gradually closed until they were reduced to a
single fandango." A little later the famous gambling house, the "El Dorado,"
corner of Center and Weber Avenue, was closed. It was first run by John Owens,
and later by John W. O'Neal, who figured considerably in politics. The press
commenting on the closing of the El Dorado, said: "We are pleased to record the
closing of the only gambling house in the city, John O'Neal, the owner, has
concluded to convert the building into stores. Public gambling and fandangoes
have yielded to the mandates of the moral sentiment of the community. The great
accession of women and children to our population has done much to influence
these results. Schoolhouses have taken the place of gambling saloons and, in one
instance, the gospel is preached."
The Cascarone Ball
A very pretty dance engaged in by the better class of Mexicans was what
was known as the Cascarone ball. It was a dance by which favors were shown by
the women to those men they most admired. This admiration was shown by means of
egg shells filled with finely cut colored papers or perfume. The dance was
celebrated in the spring of the year, when eggs were plentiful. The yolks of the
eggs were drawn, the shell filled with the papers or perfume and the opening
covered over. During the dance, or at any time, the woman would slip up, unseen
by the favored one, and throw one of the egg shells at his head, and the shell
breaking would fill his hair with the colored papers. Reserving the egg shells
filled with perfume until the last of the dance, she would break them upon the
heads of the men she most admired. It was considered an honor to be thus pelted,
and a high honor to those who were thus perfumed. It served another purpose, for
maidens could thus designate those whose attentions they desired, and the wives,
those whose friendship they respected. These Cascarone balls were given at
intervals for many years, the last one being given along in 1880 in the old
Pioneer hall, the Mexican population of the city and county being few in number.
Hanging of Judas
The principal sports of the Mexicans were the amusing sport of hanging
Judas Iscariot, flour-throwing day and the barbarous sport of rooster-pulling.
The last-named sport was was saintly in comparison to the cruel cowboy
exhibitions of today. The first took place just before the crucifixion day of
Jesus Christ. It was a religious performance and typified their hatred of
Christ's betrayer. The Mexicans made up a dummy with a false mask and all kinds
of horrible clothing and placed a quantity of gunpowder in the body; then
seating him in a chair in an old tumble-down wagon, the older the better, drawn
by two sorry-looking mustangs, they hauled Judas about the streets to the sound
of discordant music and the jeers of the Mexicans. A short time before ten
o'clock mass in the Catholic Church, the procession halted on Washington Square,
they hung Judas by the neck on a gallows already prepared for the arch traitor,
then set fire to his legs, the fire crept upward, there was an explosion and
Judas was blown into smithereens. A few minutes later the church bell rang and
all of the Mexicans attended mass.
The Flour Battle
Amusing to all but the victims was the flour-day battle, and to engage
in the sport of that battle the participants would spend every dollar they
possessed, if necessary, to buy flour. The description of a victim of an event
is sometimes better than a description by an observer on neutral ground and I
will let the reporter describe what he saw and received good and plenty :
"The celebration of the last day of the carnival took place
yesterday�March 8, 1859�and at an early hour the Mexicans began their sports.
The center of the fun seemed to be at the corner of El Dorado and Market
streets, in front of the Phoenix Hotel. A band of music was in attendance and
the partakers in the sport were arrayed in all manner of accoutrements, with
cocked hats, soldier hats, stove�pipes. There were big Mexicans and little
Mexicans and Mexicans of high and low degree, Mexican flags were flying from the
adjacent buildings, and the fair sex were upon the balconies. The flour throwing
was commenced at an early hour, several victims having been fastened to a chair,
overwhelmed with flour, and afterwards taken behind a sort of castle as
prisoners of war., Later in the day the Mexicans formed into opposing forces,
and at the sound of the bugle, charged upon each other, making the flour which
they carried in bags, fly in a bewildering cloud. After pelting each other
liberally they began throwing flour at the two or three hundred by�standers, who
made excellent time from the spot. One of us got spotted and as a special
compliment he received a pound or so of the staff of life, but his excellent
traveling qualities soon removed him from danger. At a late hour "fatal
curiosity," the same propensity which betrayed Mrs. Bluebeard into a very
awkward scrape, tempted another of us to gaze upon the motley crowd in Center
Street. The leader, Colonel Lopez, unfortunately happening to be our Spanish
interpreter, and wishing to pay the compliments of the season, the unlucky
newspaper man, who was gazing, was seized by several stout hombres, and before
he could say his soul was his own, he was deluged with flour, enough to sustain
a good-sized family a week. When he escaped the scribe could not tell himself
from "Death on a pale horse." The rogues soaked it to him good. Though he
appreciated the compliment and the three cheers, a little less flour would have
been more acceptable. The sport was carried out in good humor and we hope to see
another specimen, but far from the immediate danger of participation."
Rooster Pulling
The sport of rooster pulling was fun for the Mexicans but death to
chanticleer. Its origin is unknown, but in its performance the Mexican riders
displayed great nerve and expert horsemanship. The entire performance centered
around a rooster, his body planted in the earth, leaving his neck and head free.
The feat was for a Mexican on horseback, riding rapidly past the rooster's head
to quickly bend over and pull him from the earth. It was a difficult and
dangerous feat, as the stumbling of the animal or the turning of the saddle
would crush the rider's head against the ground. It was also difficult because
the rooster would always dodge as the man's hand came near him. In this sport
the riders were very cruel to their bronchos, as they would prick their long
spurs into their quivering flanks and stop them short, after passing the
rooster, with their Spanish bits. It was no unusual sight to see the poor
mustangs bleeding at the mouth, and their flanks gnashed and bleeding as if cut
with a knife. When a rider succeeded in pulling a rooster from the earth it was
his hour of victory and he was privileged to pelt his defeated companions over
the head and shoulders with the body of the victim. Then would come the race to
get out of his way. If they had faster horses they were lucky; if not they would
go racing through the streets, the victor pelting them until there was nothing
left of the rooster but the head and neck. The sport usually took place on St,
John's day, on Washington Square. In the '60s the authorities prohibited the
performance on the square and riding at a breakneck speed through the principal
streets. They then transferred their rooster pulling to the banks of Mormon
Channel near American Street.
Early Jewish Settlers
In the rush of '49 between two and three hundred Jews came to Stockton.
They came like the multitude, to get gold, not like the goldseekers, to dig it
from the earth, but to get it by trade rather than by manual labor. It was a
very unusual thing to find among them a gold digger or a mechanic in Stockton.
They were shopkeepers, merchants, peddlers and auctioneers. The first book store
in town was owned by J. Rosenbaum on Center Street and near him was the clothing
store of Bernard Frankheimer, who later moved to Main Street near Hunter and
employed as a clerk David S. Rosenbaum, in after years one of Stockton's most
progressive citizens. Another progressive citizen of the fifties was Isaac
Zachariah, first a clothier and then an auctioneer. He planted a beautiful
garden of fruits and flowers, and the public was at all times welcome. At one
time the public school-picnic was held there and he provided all the
refreshments. Time and again the citizens and the fire companies were indebted
to him for flowers for decorations. Another set of men were peddlers, and taking
their packs upon their backs they would tramp over the county, selling their
goods. Today their children are reaping the harvest of their hard-earned toil.
Among the well known Jewish families of Stockton were the Bernard
Frankheimers, M. L. Abramsky, the Harts, David Safferhill, the Rosenbaums,
Kullman and Saltz families, and later the Friedbergers from San Andreas, and the
Levinskys from Woodbridge. Some of these men were prominent in secret societies,
Isaac Zacariah was the first noble grand of Charity Lodge, I. O. O. F., and
Hyram Mitchell, who now sleeps in the Jewish cemetery, was a charter member of
Stockton Lodge of Odd Fellows and the first Odd Fellow in Stockton to attend a
sick and needy brother until his death. Looking further we find the names of S.
Friedman, Louis Rosenthal, R. G. Jacobs, Samuel Marks, E. Gumperts, A. Kolberg
and M. Stamper, Odd Fellows of many years ago. Among the Masons there were many
and we find Michael Arndt, L. H. Frankheimer, Dr. William and A. V. Friedberger,
Henry Glick, Emil Gumpert, Alfred Haslacher and Irvin Zeimer, 32nd degree
Masons. The Jewish religious organization is known as the Congregation Ryhim
Ahoovim�Beloved brethren�and, said Moses Marks in 1905, "A half century has gone
by since this congregation was organized. This was in in 1852, and three years
later the congregation, like King Solomon of old, said, 'And behold I purpose to
build an house unto the name of the Lord my God.' " They obtained a lot on the
north bank of the channel on Miner Avenue near Hunter Street, the rear of the
lot being under water much of the time. Subscriptions of money were obtained
from Hebrews and Gentiles, and a small building was erected, seating probably
200 at a cost of $3,500. "The synagogue is a commodious structure and the whole
reflects a high credit upon the congregation. It was lighted by a six-lamp
chandelier with whale oil as a fuel. At the altar candles were used as in this
day. The elegant and beautiful curtains which hid the Ark of the Covenant were
presented to the congregation by Mr. and Mrs. M. Marks. An eloquent and
impressive dedication discourse in English and Hebrew was delivered by Julius
Eckmann of San Francisco." During the flood of 1861-62 there was two feet of
water on the floor of the synagogue and a rushing river on the front and rear of
the building, and as soon as possible the building was removed to a lot on
Hunter Street opposite the home of Wm. Kierski. It was set three feet above the
ground and provided with a portico and fence. The congregation worshiped in this
house until 1905.
A Hebrew Marriage
An event in the synagogue which created considerable interest in the
community because of its novelty was the marriage in January, 1859, of Samuel
Faulk, of San Francisco, to Miss Lenken Swartz, of Stockton. Long before the
hour set for the ceremony the building was crowded with Jews and Gentiles,
anxious to witness the Jewish marriage ceremony, as it was the first marriage of
the kind in Stockton. At the appointed hour the bridal party, fourteen in
number, arrived at the synagogue, marched up the aisle to the platform in the
following order; first, four young lady bridesmaids accompanied by four
groomsmen, then came the bride accompanied by two married ladies, and behind
them the bridegroom and the husbands of the two matrons, the latter witnesses to
the marriage contract. The wedding party standing front of the Ark of the
Covenant, Rabbi Julius Eckmann addressed the audience in "a happy style, and
alluded to the fact that the national prejudice against the Jews was passing, as
evinced by the large number of Gentiles present." He then addressed the bride
and groom upon their duties. This short address was followed by a prayer. The
platform was then covered by a white satin canopy or "chuppa" and beneath it
stood the bride and groom, the rabbi, the two male witnesses and their wives.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen stood at the corners of the platform, two at each
corner, the men supporting the canopy by long staffs. The obligation of the
synagogue, which was very solemn and impressive, was then administered to the
bridal couple. The rabbi then read aloud the marriage contract stating that the
bride and bridegroom did "on the 24th of Shevatt in the year 1519 enter into a
certain contract." The year corresponded to the 30th of January, 1859. The
blessing was then chanted in Hebrew. During this time one of the witnesses held
in his hand a silver tankard and a glass tumbler, and as the marriage vows were
pronounced the husband and wife each took a sip of liquid from the tankard. The
glass was then dropped to the floor and the husband crushed it with his foot.
This ended the ceremony. The bridal party and their friends then wended their
way to Turnverein hall and sat down to a magnificent dinner and those present
then enjoyed the dance to the music of a fine orchestra until near midnight.
As early as 1851 the Jews of Stockton set apart a sacred place of burial
for their dead. In that year the Hebrew ladies requested Captain Weber to give
them a burial plot. He complied with their request and gave them the block
bounded by Union, Acacia, Pilgrim and Poplar streets, then outside of the city
limits. They enclosed a small part of the block with a high rough-board fence,
and a burial was there made as early as 1852. This was Stockton's first
permanently established cemetery. The Hebrew ladies were anxious to erect a
suitable fence around the block, but the conditions were such that nothing could
be accomplished until 1859. In that year the Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Society
gave a ball in the city hall January 20 "for the purpose of raising funds to be
appropriated to the building of a fence around the Hebrew burial ground." They
secured one of the best citizens to act as manager and the ball was a financial
success. The ladies cleared $375.75, and in February at a meeting of the
Congregation Ryhim Ahoovim, of which Joseph Marks was president and Bernard
Frankheimer, secretary, the money was presented to them by Miss Rebecca Marks,
together with $100 from the society, as a donation to the fund. "The fence
around the Jewish cemetery has been quite completed," said the reporter in
December, 1859, "and the place is now an almost exact counterpart in appearance
to the Odd Fellows burial ground." What became of that fence I don't know, but
for many years the block has been enclosed by a fence of Osage orange trees. It
is an evergreen memorial to the pride and perseverance of the first Hebrew
Ladies' Benevolent Society.
The Oppenheimer Duel
The Hebrews were a highly moral people for from early childhood they
were taught the religion of their fathers and the Mosaic law. Even their
personal difficulties were settled out of court. There was one case, however,
where the Jew, like Shakespeare's Shylock, wanted blood. The difficulty occurred
in April, 1860, Samuel Frankenthall and M. P. Oppenheimer, a wholesale cigar
dealer, engaged in a fight over some trivial matter. Later Frankenthall, in
telling of the fight to a friend, remarked that he would rather believe a
Chinaman or a negro than Oppenheimer. When Oppenheimer heard of his opponent's
remark he demanded that the Jew retract the insulting words. Frankenthall was
stubborn and refused to change his opinion of Oppenheimer. Then the latter
challenged his enemy to mortal combat on the "field of honor." The seconds were
selected and by the terms of the agreement the two men were to meet west of the
asylum at six o'clock in the morning. The weapons used were navy revolvers and
the duelists were to stand twelve paces apart back to back, and at the word,
wheel and fire. After one round, in which no one was in danger but the seconds,
an attempt was made to adjust the difficulty, but Frankenthall would not go back
of his opinion regarding adversary. After firing two more rounds, each man,
shooting holes in the air, the seconds succeeded in ending the deadly affair,
Frankenthall saying that he would believe Oppenheimer as quickly as he would a
Chinaman or a negro. This assertion satisfied Oppenheimer and the parties again
became friends.
The Jewish Reform Movement
In the last few years of the 19th century a wonderful reform was made in
the Jewish religion. The reform movement in Stockton was led by M. S. Jaffee,
and it resulted in a separation of the Congregation Ryhim Ahoovim, the departure
of Rabbi Davidson, who had been their rabbi for over twenty years, and the
establishing of a new synagogue on Fremont Street between California and Sutter.
Dedication of the Temple
In the year 1900 the old synagogue was fast decaying from the stress of
winter storm, summer heat and over half a century of service, and the
congregation planned to build a handsome Temple Israel, but when the bids were
opened for the construction of an edifice of wood it was found that the bids for
material, especially that of lumber, was so high that the lowest bid was $2,000
higher than the architect's estimate, and they were compelled to defer for a
time the building of a new temple. In 1905 it was erected at a cost of
approximately $14,000, and seating about 400 persons, was dedicated Friday
evening, September 12. Early in the evening it was crowded with Jews arid
Gentiles, the last named forming more than one-half of the audience. The
ceremonial service was preceded by an organ prelude by Karl Brueck. A prayer was
then offered in Hebrew by Rabbi Montague of San Francisco. While the choir was
singing the rabbi retired to a rear room and immediately returned accompanied by
two gentlemen carrying the sacred scrolls. These they delivered into the keeping
of Rabbi Voorsanger. After reading a passage of scripture appropriate to
the occasion, he deposited the scrolls "within the sanctuary over which stands
the tablet of the law." The next ceremonial was the lighting of the "perpetual
light" and H. Marks, the president of the Congregation, arose from his seat with
a lighted taper in his hand and repeated first in Hebrew and then in English the
sacred words, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God the Eternal is one God." He then
read in Hebrew from the new English version of Genesis 1:1-2 translated for use
in the Jewish service. Up to this time the temple was dimly lighted but as the
president repeated the last line, "And God said Let there be Light; and there
was Light" he lit the perpetual light and the full flow of gas was turned on in
the candlebras. Following the address of Lucius L. Solomon of San Francisco, M.
P. Stein stepped upon the platform, accompanied by little Hattie Glick�now Mrs.
Carl Steinhart�bearing the key of the temple on a cushion. The key he presented
to the president, who in receiving it said in part, "The unlocking of this door
is an invitation to the people of all denomination to enter and be welcomed."
The Hebraic prayer by Rabbi Cohen was preceded by the choir singing the one
hundredth Psalm, the choir singing during the Rabbi's absence the hymn, "Sh'ma
Yisroel," Just previous to the remarks of President Marks the song of "Etz
Chayhim," Tree of Life, was sung.
Concluding his address Miss Bessie S. Rosenbaum sang the hymn, "Lead,
kindly light," and the anthem "I will magnify Thee, Oh Lord," following the
address of President Marks, H. Weinstock's address on "Why We Build Beautiful
Houses of Worship" was followed by the dedicatory address by Dr. Voorsanger, the
choir then singing the Jewish hymn, "Ador Olam." The benediction was then
pronounced by Rabbi Cohen.
Arrival of Chinese
The Chinese are a paradox. They are more troublesome to the authorities
than any other class of foreign population, because of their gambling, opium
smoking, prostitution and tong wars. They are the most desirable of servants and
employes because of their docility; never go on a strike and are willing to work
for a fair living wage. They began coming to Stockton as early as January, 1852,
the little steamer Kate Kearny bringing quite a number to the city in that
month. They continued arriving and in June, 1858, the reporter paid his respects
to them as follows: "On Monday night the Helen Hensley brought up over 200
Chinamen and they were later quartered in the Chinese hovel, corner Hunter and
Channel streets. The crowd started yesterday for the mines and seated on their
luggage on the mule teams they chattered like a lot of apes, which they resemble
somewhat." As to their number living in Stockton, the first census report we
have is in 1870. In that year they numbered 1,629, in 1880 1,997, in 1890 1,676,
and in 1910 1,873.
Seven-eights of these Mongolian residents were men and their occupations
were principally of the menial class; some were servants in private families;
some hotel and restaurant cooks, and in 1854 quite a number were engaged in
catching and curing fish. These fish they caught in the Stockton Channel,
fishing sometimes where now stands the Hotel Stockton.. In curing the fish "they
operated on a large schooner and were experts in cleaning them and salting them
down in pork barrels, where they found a ready sale in the mines." Hundreds of
them were miners and they would camp in Stockton for the winter. It is stated
that millions of dollars worth of gold was saved by them, as they were willing
to work at a small profit, diggings deserted by the white miners. In later day
as the population increased they became laundrymen, vegetable gardeners and
hucksters, blackberry pickers, merchants, island renters and potato raisers.
Their foods in the earlier days was of the simplest kind, principally
rice, pork, sugar and the finest quality of tea imported from China. They were
very fond of ducks and chickens when they had the money to purchase them, ate
neither beef nor mutton. The cooked food was set on the floor in large bowls and
the Chinamen, squatting around in a circle, would help themselves directly from
the bowl to their mouth. The Chinese of today patronize the baker for bread and
pastry. Many of them have been family cooks and they appreciate good living.
The Chinese in early times were located on Bridge Street between Hunter
and El Dorado, facing Stockton Channel. Their habitats were an old
story-and-a-half house, formerly a French hotel, and several one-story shacks
that in the early day had been places of business. Crowded into these places
with no means of ventilation or sanitation, these houses soon became the foulest
ill-smelling spots in the city and a menace to health and the morals of the
community, especially the children, for there was a public school only a block
away. "They were quiet and peaceful during the day, but at night they made the
hours hideous with their infernal bawling and wrangling. "They have become an
unbearable nuisance," said the scribe, "but the cold water remedy has been very
successful in stopping it in other cities, notably San Francisco, Sacramento and
Marysville." Taking the hint as suggested by the Republican, some parties in
May, 1854, quietly took one of the fire engines from the engine house late in
the evening, set the engine and drawing water from the Channel literally drowned
out the shacks. The next morning it created a sensation and considerable feeling
because of the disgraceful and unwarranted act, but no arrests were made.
Burning of Chinatown
The water cure was not a success, for the Mongolians went back to their
water-soaked hovels as soon as permitted and remained there for several years.
In July, 1862, the destruction of these hovels was regarded as a public benefit.
The fire broke out about eleven o'clock at night caused by the explosion of a
lamp and in one hour the buildings were a bed of coals. They were owned by
George Deitz, a gunsmith, Emile Hestres and M. Poursille, of Philadelphia. Upon
the ruins was built the two-story brick now standing. Another disgrace to the
city was the house at the corner of Channel and Hunter. Time and again efforts
were made to set fire to the place, but the Chinamen were foxy. They guarded the
house every night during the summer and threw pails of water upon the shingled
roof. Nightly there would be from twenty to fifty Chinamen bunked in a room
20x40 feet, the bunks placed steamboat style, and sometimes they would lay so
thick upon the floor it was impossible to walk across the room. The house was
finally torn down and the present brick structure erected.
There was good money in renting buildings to Chinese tenants and parties
with capital erected one-story buildings for them on Washington Street, between
Hunter and El Dorado. They were soon filled with Mongolians and in a short time
the same filthy and outrageous conditions existed as in their former location.
They were in a measure isolated for several years as there was but little travel
along the street and but few families in that vicinity. At this time many
Chinese women had arrived and many of them undesirables.
As the years rolled on more Chinese crowded into that locality and
houses for them were erected on both sides of the street. Their presence
depreciated the value of property round about, and poor persons began to settle
there. Things were getting pretty bad and in September, 1867, Charles Hubner, an
honest plain-spoken Hollander, capitalist, and member of the common council,
published the following: "To the citizens and taxpayers living in the vicinity
of the new Hong Kong, which is permanently settled and located in the heart and
midst of the great and flourishing city of Stockton: You hoped that some day you
would be relieved of the great evil, but your hopes have been dashed to pieces.
The idea that you could pass along the street corner of El Dorado and
Washington, without taking a perfume bottle along and smelling frequently of its
contents you had better give up. Don't dream, that the time will come when you
can sleep without being disturbed by a band of hell-escaped wolves. Don't
imagine that you can walk along Washington Street without blushing, for the city
fathers will take no measure to suppress this evil. Don't imagine that your sons
and daughters will be able to go to school along that street without blushing.
You have tried in vain to remove the Chinese from your midst. It would seem as
if every officer has taken a special oath to cherish and protect them in their
crimes. To the Chinese I would say, go on with your ungodly crimes. Call the
youths of your city into your dens, and show them all that is worth seeing, for
you are protected by the strong arm of the law." This was no exaggerated
statement made by Mr. Hubner, and up to a few years ago it was a common report
that the higher-ups were paid "hush money."
Hubner was anxious to abate this evil, and he jointly with others,
purchased some lots on Mormon Channel just west of Center Street and erected
some cheap houses anticipating that the Washington Street denizens could be
prevailed upon to remove to the new locality. Before the shacks were completed
they were set on fire and burned down. The people in the neighborhood said they
didn't want the Chinese out there. New buildings were erected and without
lessening the number in the old Chinatown the new buildings were soon occupied.
There took place the only double murder in San Joaquin County. It appears that
two Chinamen, a Sam Yup Co and a Hong Wo Co man, were gambling. The Hong man
lost and refused to pay the debt, whereupon eight of the Sam Yups surrounded him
and attempted to force him to "pungle up." He was a fighter, however, and
drawing a knife from his blouse, he stabbed a Sam Yup named Hong Pang who
dropped dead. In the excitement Mr. Hong broke away and fled towards the tules,
accompanied by another Hong man. Pursued by Sam Yups they began shooting and Sam
Yup fell mortally wounded. A Sam Yup then ran to the police office and Officer
Jerome Myers was sent out to hunt for the murderers hiding in the tules. As it
was near dark he could do nothing and started back to town. Before he had gone
far he heard a shot. He and his companion hurried to the spot and found a Hong
Wo man had been killed. Myers questioned the Chinese but it was of no use. These
"tong wars" are still going on, and many Chinamen have been killed by the
"hatchet men" of the other company, because of some crime or insult. There is no
possible way for the authorities to punish the murderer as his company will
perjure themselves in his favor, employ the best attorneys to defend him, and
the other company dare not testify against the murderer, fearing that they will
be killed.
The Joss House
The religion of the Chinese is Buddhism, a religion as old as the
pyramids of Egypt. In Stockton they had their Buddha, and sometimes they had two
of them. Their principal god was in the second story of a Chinese temple or
"Joss house" on Hunter Street adjoining Turnverein hall, and there during their
religious festivals the Chinese would come from far and near by the hundred and
bow down before, and worship the "big Joss," In 1881 the old wooden structure
was torn down and in its place they erected "one of the most substantial brick
buildings in the city" at a cost of $7,500. The second story was fitted up as a
Chinese temple and over $5,000 was expended in fitting up the interior. On one
side of the room on an elevated seat sat the new Joss, dressed in all of the
color of the rainbow. When sitting he was over eight feet in height, with arms
four feet in length. He was a hideous looking monster, scowling upon his
worshipers as they bowed and burned incense before his shrine. The temple was
dedicated by a three-days ceremonial of priestly prayers, incense and food
offerings, and open to the public, thousands of persons visited the place and
admired the many excellent specimens of Chinese skill and handiwork. A few years
ago the building was sold and converted into a rooming house and meat market.
A Chinese Funeral
One of the oddest events of the Chinese was a funeral. They are a very
superstitious people and when a Chinaman died every effort was made to keep the
devil from getting him. As the funeral procession wended its way to the cemetery
a Chinaman sat upon the hearse with the driver and threw out small slips of red
colored papers with Chinese characters upon them, to keep the devil from getting
the spirit of the deceased. If the deceased was poor no music, no mourners nor
hacks, if wealthy or a man of influence he had music, a Chinese or American
band, paid women mourners who, dressed in white, their mourning color, marched
behind the hearse; then came the friends in carriages. Bringing up the rear was
an express wagon carrying food for the dead on his celestial journey. This food
comprised rice, tea with china tea cups, and other delicacies and a whole hog
nicely roasted. On arrival at the cemetery the body was interred in a place set
apart especially for Chinese, the food was placed upon the grave and around it
burning tapers of incense. The food was usually left there for three or four
days, but when the tramps began appropriating the food after the Chinamen left
the place, they fooled the weary willies by returning to town with the food.
Every Chinaman believes that his spirit could not rest in eternal peace unless
his bones be buried in his native soil. So after a time when the body has
decaved, the director of his company disinters the remains, and scraping clean
the bones, packs them in a small air-tight box and ships them to China. Every
few years hundreds of these boxes are exported, containing the bones of deceased
Chinese from all parts of the state.
Chinese New Year
The great Chinese day is the Chinese New Year. The celebration, which
continues for three days does not come on the same date each year, because in
Chinese chronology they calculate time by the phases of the moon and in cycles
of sixty years. In preparation for that event the Chinamen of the poorer class
save up their money so that they may be enabled to pay all of their debts before
New Year's day. So honest were the Mongolians that it was considered a disgrace
to he unable to pay his debts, and on one occasion a China�man unable to pay up,
committed suicide. Just before New Year's you will find in every Chinese hovel,
shack and store a little bulb called a Chinese lily. It is a peculiar plant as
it does not grow in soil, but in the open air supported by small pebbles in a
dish of water. They give this bulb as presents to their friends, together with
Chinese nuts and candies, and if the bulb flower before New Years it is
considered as a good omen for that house. The celebration continues for three
days and during that time they feast in their own homes, visit their friends,
worship in the Joss house and explode hundreds of dollars worth of
fire�crackers. It was a time of great rejoicing for the small boy and, said an
eyewitness, February 1, 1859, "Tuesday was the first of the Chinese New Year and
the moon-eyed Johns spread themselves in the way of firecrackers. They were ably
assisted in the discharge of this sort of artillery by the Young America of this
city, who mustered in great strength around their habitations and volunteered
their services." Then, as I have stated, there were few homes in that vicinity
and but little travel along Washington Street. In time their noisy celebration
became a nuisance as the families in that vicinity were awakened at midnight by
the incessant noise of the crackers, and during the day there were several
accidents by frightened runaway horses. People made complaint and Edward Colnon,
editor of the Mail, demanded in his paper that the chief of police, Ben F.
Rodgers, suppress the nuisance. Police regulations were established and the
Chinese permitted to fire explosives during certain early and late daylight
hours.